SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday hailed the restart of limited face-to-face classes in select areas but emphasized the need to ensure that measures to combat Covid19 are enforced to prevent transmission in schools.

Gatchalian highlighted the importance of well-ventilated spaces and adequate hygiene, sanitation and water facilities in schools. He also said that local government units must have an active contact tracing and surveillance system.

“Matapos ang mahigit isang taon na walang face-to-face classes, sa wakas ay sinimulan na natin ang unti-unting pagbabalik ng mga mag-aaral sa kanilang mga paaralan. Kasabay nito, dapat prayoridad pa rin natin ang kalusugan at kaligtasan ng ating mga mag-aaral at mga guro,” he said.

Gatchalian also said that all teachers and eligible learners should be inoculated against Covid19 to boost the confidence of parents and communities on reopening schools.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture visited some participating schools on the first day of the pilot run.

Gatchalian called on the Department of Education to prioritize the reopening of schools in its 2022 budget.